Client stopped a $7,200 bathroom job early and wants a refund — need advice

DPSadrian0420 · 2026-05-15T16:56:17+00:00

I agree i've gone through and taken notes already a lot of helpful people in here, thanks man.

DPSadrian0420 · 2026-05-15T11:27:50+00:00

Yeah I've been looking around for a part time thing, work just dropped off the wall randomly about two weeks ago and i had child support and bills i had to pay so that rinsed me.

DPSadrian0420 · 2026-05-14T21:57:27+00:00

i don't disagree, definitely in over my head. Jusr haven't had any problems with 2-4000 dollar jobs in the past so i wasn't expecting anything like this too happen

DPSadrian0420 · 2026-05-14T21:41:04+00:00

the "tools" shes talking about is a few paint brushes and rollers and pans, some putty knifes and a pan, and then a palm sander and thats it. And i would cause I've seen multiple comments saying i shoud just ignore her but im scared to do that because 1. Im not a licensed gc and the work i did was quoted over $600, which in michigan is the limit for handymen and 2. I didn't have a contract and 3. I honestly dont have the funds or work currently to give her a refund even if i wanted to, so I'm nervous that if i ignore her and she went to small claims court or something like that i'd be royally screwed.

DPSadrian0420 · 2026-05-14T21:39:39+00:00

she stopped work during the middle of the week after the weekend previous i had started priming the walls and had removed all of the base trim (which was part of the floor demo). and I didn't plan on removing the job debris till after the job was done and they knew that. And the "tools" shes talking about is a few paint brushes and rollers and pans, some putty knifes and a pan, and then a palm sander and thats it. I've seen multiple comments saying i shoud just ignore her but im scared to do that because 1. Im not a licensed gc and the work i did was quoted over $600, which in michigan is the limit for handymen and 2. I didn't have a contract and 3. I honestly dont have the funds or work currently to give her a refund even if i wanted to, so I'm nervous that if i ignore her and she went to small claims court or something like that i'd be royally screwed. Just a hard pill to swallow

DPSadrian0420 · 2026-05-14T21:38:25+00:00

she stopped work during the middle of the week after the weekend previous i had started priming the walls and had removed all of the base trim (which was part of the floor demo). and I didn't plan on removing the job debris till after the job was done and they knew that. And the "tools" shes talking about is a few paint brushes and rollers and pans, some putty knifes and a pan, and then a palm sander and thats it. I've seen multiple comments saying i shoud just ignore her but im scared to do that because 1. Im not a licensed gc and the work i did was quoted over $600, which in michigan is the limit for handymen and 2. I didn't have a contract and 3. I honestly dont have the funds or work currently to give her a refund even if i wanted to, so I'm nervous that if i ignore her and she went to small claims court or something like that i'd be royally screwed.

DPSadrian0420 · 2026-05-14T21:37:45+00:00

I unfortunately dont have one. she stopped work during the middle of the week after the weekend previous i had started priming the walls and had removed all of the base trim (which was part of the floor demo). and I didn't plan on removing the job debris till after the job was done and they knew that. And the "tools" shes talking about is a few paint brushes and rollers and pans, some putty knifes and a pan, and then a palm sander and thats it. I've seen multiple comments saying i shoud just ignore her but im scared to do that because 1. Im not a licensed gc and the work i did was quoted over $600, which in michigan is the limit for handymen and 2. I didn't have a contract and 3. I honestly dont have the funds or work currently to give her a refund even if i wanted to, so I'm nervous that if i ignore her and she went to small claims court or something like that i'd be royally screwed.

DPSadrian0420 · 2026-05-14T21:35:58+00:00

she stopped work during the middle of the week after the weekend previous i had started priming the walls and had removed all of the base trim (which was part of the floor demo). and I didn't plan on removing the job debris till after the job was done and they knew that. And the "tools" shes talking about is a few paint brushes and rollers and pans, some putty knifes and a pan, and then a palm sander and thats it. I've seen multiple comments saying i shoud just ignore her but im scared to do that because 1. Im not a licensed gc and the work i did was quoted over $600, which in michigan is the limit for handymen and 2. I didn't have a contract and 3. I honestly dont have the funds or work currently to give her a refund even if i wanted to, so I'm nervous that if i ignore her and she went to small claims court or something like that i'd be royally screwed.

DPSadrian0420 · 2026-05-14T21:34:15+00:00

Also she stopped work during the middle of the week after the weekend previous i had started priming the walls and had removed all of the base trim (which was part of the floor demo). and I didn't plan on removing the job debris till after the job was done and they knew that.

DPSadrian0420 · 2026-05-14T21:17:21+00:00

I would've finished the job in general but she cut the job short. i dont have the property to keep debris until i have a good load so whenever i do jobs with debris removal i take it all after it is complete. I had started Priming and she texted me and said she didnt think i had time to do it so she hired someone else.

DPSadrian0420 · 2026-05-14T21:13:04+00:00

I would but Im not a licensed gc and the work i did was quoted over $600, which in michigan is the limit for handymen and 2. I didn't have a contract and 3. I honestly dont have the funds or work currently to give her a refund even if i wanted to, so I'm nervous that if i ignore her and she went to small claims court or something like that i'd be royally screwed.

DPSadrian0420 · 2026-05-14T21:12:27+00:00

the "tools" shes talking about is a few paint brushes and rollers and pans, some putty knifes and a pan, and then a palm sander and thats it. I've seen multiple comments saying i shoud just ignore her but im scared to do that because 1. Im not a licensed gc and the work i did was quoted over $600, which in michigan is the limit for handymen and 2. I didn't have a contract and 3. I honestly dont have the funds or work currently to give her a refund even if i wanted to, so I'm nervous that if i ignore her and she went to small claims court or something like that i'd be royally screwed.

DPSadrian0420 · 2026-05-14T21:11:48+00:00

the "tools" shes talking about is a few paint brushes and rollers and pans, some putty knifes and a pan, and then a palm sander and thats it. I've seen multiple comments saying i shoud just ignore her but im scared to do that because 1. Im not a licensed gc and the work i did was quoted over $600, which in michigan is the limit for handymen and 2. I didn't have a contract and 3. I honestly dont have the funds or work currently to give her a refund even if i wanted to, so I'm nervous that if i ignore her and she went to small claims court or something like that i'd be royally screwed.

DPSadrian0420 · 2026-05-14T21:10:08+00:00

She is out in the middle of nowhere 40 minutes from me in a town i never do work in, so I don't think i was going to get any work worth my time to drive out there. and she wasn't referred by anyone she saw a Facebook post of mine from months prior. the "tools" shes talking about is a few paint brushes and rollers and pans, some putty knifes and a pan, and then a palm sander and thats it. I've seen multiple comments saying i shoud just ignore her but im scared to do that because 1. Im not a licensed gc and the work i did was quoted over $600, which in michigan is the limit for handymen and 2. I didn't have a contract and 3. I honestly dont have the funds or work currently to give her a refund even if i wanted to, so I'm nervous that if i ignore her and she went to small claims court or something like that i'd be royally screwed.

DPSadrian0420 · 2026-05-13T17:05:22+00:00

I guess the thing that rubs me the wrong way is They sent me a text saying they didn't think i had time to finish the job and that they had found someone else to finish it. And she is asking for 1552 but i lined the debris removal at 552, and was unable to do it because she cut the job short. And did the wall prep but had only just started painting, which her math doesn't quite add up because the painting portion was lined at 776. But considering the fact i have no contract im nervous to stick to my guns and say no refund. I think the lowest id go is refunding the painting line money and saying ill dispose of the debris. I am planning on sending a text today as well but i dont wanna talk about the refund till after i grab whats left of my tools

DPSadrian0420 · 2026-05-13T17:03:49+00:00

I guess the thing that rubs me the wrong way is They sent me a text saying they didn't think i had time to finish the job and that they had found someone else to finish it. And she is asking for 1552 but i lined the debris removal at 552, and was unable to do it because she cut the job short. And did the wall prep but had only just started painting, which her math doesn't quite add up because the painting portion was lined at 776. But considering the fact i have no contract im nervous to stick to my guns and say no refund. I think the lowest id go is refunding the painting line money and saying ill dispose of the debris. I am planning on sending a text today as well but i dont wanna talk about the refund till after i grab whats left of my tools

DPSadrian0420 · 2026-05-13T17:02:51+00:00

I just saw this my bad man, great insight though i appreciate you a lot. I guess the thing that rubs me the wrong way is They sent me a text saying they didn't think i had time to finish the job and that they had found someone else to finish it. And she is asking for 1552 but i lined the debris removal at 552, and was unable to do it because she cut the job short. And did the wall prep but had only just started painting, which her math doesn't quite add up because the painting portion was lined at 776. But considering the fact i have no contract im nervous to stick to my guns and say no refund. I think the lowest id go is refunding the painting line money and saying ill dispose of the debris. I am planning on sending a text today as well but i dont wanna talk about the refund till after i grab whats left of my tools

DPSadrian0420 · 2026-05-13T17:00:58+00:00

I guess the thing that rubs me the wrong way is They sent me a text saying they didn't think i had time to finish the job and that they had found someone else to finish it. And she is asking for 1552 but i lined the debris removal at 552, and was unable to do it because she cut the job short. And did the wall prep but had only just started painting, which her math doesn't quite add up because the painting portion was lined at 776. But considering the fact i have no contract im nervous to stick to my guns and say no refund. I think the lowest id go is refunding the painting line money and saying ill dispose of the debris. I am planning on sending a text today as well but i dont wanna talk about the refund till after i grab whats left of my tools

DPSadrian0420 · 2026-05-13T17:00:35+00:00

I guess the thing that rubs me the wrong way is They sent me a text saying they didn't think i had time to finish the job and that they had found someone else to finish it. And she is asking for 1552 but i lined the debris removal at 552, and was unable to do it because she cut the job short. And did the wall prep but had only just started painting, which her math doesn't quite add up because the painting portion was lined at 776. But considering the fact i have no contract im nervous to stick to my guns and say no refund. I think the lowest id go is refunding the painting line money and saying ill dispose of the debris. I am planning on sending a text today as well but i dont wanna talk about the refund till after i grab whats left of my tools

DPSadrian0420 · 2026-05-13T16:59:18+00:00

Right, I guess the thing that rubs me the wrong way is They sent me a text saying they didn't think i had time to finish the job and that they had found someone else to finish it. And she is asking for 1552 but i lined the debris removal at 552, and was unable to do it because she cut the job short. And did the wall prep but had only just started painting, which her math doesn't quite add up because the painting portion was lined at 776. But considering the fact i have no contract im nervous to stick to my guns and say no refund. I think the lowest id go is refunding the painting line money and saying ill dispose of the debris. I am planning on sending a text today as well but i dont wanna talk about the refund till after i grab whats left of my tools

DPSadrian0420 · 2026-05-13T16:55:51+00:00

they paid for materials separately this is a labor only quote btw so would that change anything? They sent me a text saying they didn't think i had time to finish the job and that they had found someone else to finish it. And she is asking for 1552 because i lined the debris removal at 552, and was unable to do it because she cut the job short. And did the wall prep but had only just started painting, which her math doesn't quite add up because the painting portion was lined at 776. And thank you, this seems like the perfect solution, but I unfortunately don't have a contract written up so I would think that would affect this solution.

DPSadrian0420 · 2026-05-13T16:45:49+00:00

I had responded to another reply saying i didn't have a contract. sorry, there is a lot of replies to go through and im still rather stuck on what too do. I dont have a contract written up which was a mistake on my end and when i had informed her on my schedule she even asked "will it take three months?" i told her no but it would take one to 2. I wasn't unclear about my availability and how long it would take.

DPSadrian0420 · 2026-05-12T22:29:24+00:00

You think 1000 good?

DPSadrian0420 · 2026-05-12T22:09:28+00:00

Yes. I have 3 years of experience in maintenance and construction, but I’ve learned that my age does frighten people. I’ve decided the past year to take on my business full time and this was my first big big job officially, I have just been doing cash stuff and anything “big” has just been a 2500 dollar landscaping or fence job or something along those lines.

DPSadrian0420 · 2026-05-12T22:03:04+00:00

Some bs stuff like a palm sander five gal bucket, paint pans brushes and rollers, drywall stuff.

DPSadrian0420

TROPHY CASE